Laura Veendapi McLeod-Katjirua is a Namibian politician who has been Governor of the Khomas Region since 2012 and Deputy Secretary General of SWAPO since 2012. Previously she was Governor of Omaheke Region from 2001 to 2012. She was transferred to Khomas Region by President Hifikepunye Pohamba after she was elected as Deputy Secretary General of SWAPO on December 2, 2012.

Laura McLeod-Katjirua
Governor of the Khomas Region
Assumed office
2012
Governor of Omaheke Region
In office
2001–2012
Preceded byPaulo Thataone
Succeeded byRapama Kamehozu[1]
SWAPO Deputy Secretary-General
In office
2012–2017
Succeeded byMarco Hausiku
Personal details
Born
Laura McLeod

Windhoek, Namibia
Political party SWAPO
ResidenceWindhoek
Alma materUnited Nations Institute for Namibia
OccupationTeacher
ProfessionPolitician
CommitteesSWAPO Central Committee

Early life and education

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Laura McLeod grew up in Gobabis, the regional capital of Omaheke. She went into Zambian exile in 1975 while she still was a teenager and completed her secondary education there at Nyango Education Centre in 1978. She graduated with a diploma in Public Administration from the United Nations Institute for Namibia, and with a Teacher's Diploma from the National Institute for Public Administration in 1982, both located in Lusaka. McLeod then stayed in Botswana, Angola, and East Germany and returned to Namibia in 1989. Upon Namibian independence in 1990, she worked as an agricultural technician.[2][3]

Political career

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McLeod was elected Regional Councillor for Omaheke Region in 2001, and Governor in 2002. She was the first female Governor of Omaheke. In the same year she was elected to the SWAPO Central Committee.[3] In December 2012 she was elected as SWAPO Deputy Secretary-General, a position considered number four in the SWAPO hierarchy.[4]

Private life

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McLeod-Katjirua has one son and one daughter.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Haufiku, Mathias (2013-03-25). "Namibia: Governor Kamehozu Loses Battle Against Cancer". New Era (Namibia). AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  2. ^ a b Kazondovi, Lorraine (26 October 2012). "A devoted mother and astute politician". New Era. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b Hopwood, Graham. "Who's Who, entry for McLeod, Laura Veenelapi - Swapo". Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID). Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  4. ^ Immanuel, Shinovene; Shipanga, Selma (3 December 2012). "Moderates prevail". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 7 December 2012.